Thermoplastic bag construction



April 3, 1951 G. T. SCHJELDAHL EI'AL 2,547,097

' THERMOPLASTIC BAG CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 7, 1949 fia/zaz az 2. W

Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATE rarest orrics THERMQPLASI'HC BAG CONSTRUCTION Minnesota Appiication November "I, 1949, Serial No. 126,022

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Our invention relates generally to bags and, more specifically, to bags made from flexible thermoplastic heat-fusible sheet material.

The primar object of our invention is the provision of a bag of the above type which may be heat-sealed and reopened a number of times in order to preserve the contents of the bag in their original state, particularly when but a portion thereof is removed at spaced intervals. To-

this end, we provide a plurality of bands of nonthermoplastic material secured in spaced parallel relation transversely about a bag as set forth, adjacent the open end portion thereof, whereby the portion of the bag underlying the uppermost band of non-thermoplastic material may be subjected to heat and pressure through said band to seal the bag, and said uppermost of said band and bag portion secured thereto may be cut or torn away to reopen the bag, said bag being reclosed by heat-sealing through the next uppermost band.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a plurality of spaced parallel bands about the upper end portion of a bag, as set forth, to which printed matter may be easily applied.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a bag as set forth, which, after opening, may be rescaled by the use of a hot iron.

Other highly important objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a bag built in accordance with our invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral indicates a bag preferably made from heat-fusible thermoplastic sheet material, such as polyethylene and the like. The

' bag may be of any suitable form but preferably and as shown is of the envelope-type, having relatively flat rectangular sides 2 joined at their side and bottom edges and providing an open top or mouth 3.

A plurality of bands 4 (as shown, four) of nonthermoplastic material such as paper, cloth, or the like, extend transversely about the bag 1 and are adhered thereto adjacent the open upper end 3 thereof in closely spaced relationship and parallel to said open end 3.. As shown, the upper edge of the uppermost band 4 is coincident with the upper edge of the bag I. The bands 5 may be adhered to the bag I by any suitable means, care being taken that the portions of each band 4 on one side of the bag directly overlie their cooperating portions on th opposite side of the bag.

Our novel bag is intended for use in storing of foods etc. in refrigerators, deep freezers, and the like, where it is important that the contents be preserved for an appreciable length of time without loss of moisture or freshness. t is sometimes desired to use only a part of the contents at one time and to save the remainder thereof for use at a later date. After the bag is originally filled with material to be stored, the mouth 3 is closed and heat and pressure is applied to the opposite sides of the uppermost band 6, as with a hot pressing iron or other tool commonly used to heat-seal paraifin-coated bags and the like. The applied heat and pressure fuses the opposite sides 2 of the bag together at the upper edges thereof whereby to hermetically seal the bag. When it is desired to reopen the bag, it is merely necessary to remove the upper end of the bag, cutting the same transversely between the uppermost band 4 and the band adjacent thereto. The bag I may be resealed by pressing the top closed with a hot iron applied to the second band 4, which, of course, has become the uppermost of the series.

From the above, it will be seen that our improved bag may be used repeatedly to store articles sealed therein. The sealing and reopening thereof may be repeated as many times as there are bands 4 on the bag. The bands G, being made from non-thermoplastic material, such as paper or the like, are capable of receiving printed matter, such as advertising, directions for use, and the like.

Our invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be wholly adequate for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while we have shown a commercial embodiment of our improved bag, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined in the claim.

What we claim is:

In a bag formed from flexible thermoplastic sheeting capable of being sealed under the application of heat and pressure, a plurality of endless bands formed from non-thermoplastic material and extending around the outer surface of' said bag transversely thereof, one of said bands being adjacent the mouth of said bag, the others thereof being in spaced relation thereto and to each other.

GILMORE T. SCHJELDAHL. DONOVAN D. WENDT.

No references cited. 

